■ noun
1》 a short burst of breath or wind.
↘a small quantity of vapour or smoke emitted in one blast.
↘an act of drawing quickly on a pipe, cigarette, or cigar.
↘ Brit. informal breath.
2》 a light pastry case containing a sweet or savoury filling.
3》 informal a complimentary review of a book, play, etc.
↘ Brit. an advertisement.
4》 a gathered mass of material in a dress or other garment.
5》 a rolled protuberant mass of hair.
6》 N. Amer. an eiderdown.
■ verb
1》 breathe in repeated short gasps.
↘move with short, noisy breaths or bursts of air or steam.
↘blow (dust, smoke, etc.) with quick breaths or blasts.
↘smoke a pipe, cigarette, or cigar.
2》 ( ~ out/up or ~ something out/up ) become swollen or cause something to swell.
↘cause to become conceited.
3》 informal advertise with exaggerated or false praise.
Phrases
in all one's ~ Brit. informal in one's whole life.
~ and blow breathe in gasps during or after exertion.
Derivatives
~er noun
Origin
ME: imitative of the sound of a breath, perh. from OE pyf (n.), pyffan (v.).